Dyson Filter Change

It happens about once a year. If you forget you are always reminded - which is a good thing. There are so many filters that need to be changed in the house and this was just another one. We have a Dyson humidifier, air purifier and fan combination unit. It’s worked fairly well for about three years so far. We brought it in one time for repair, but they simply replaced the item that wasn’t working. The unit runs with a remote control as well as by using the app - which has everything you need on it from routine readings to reminders to ordering supplies and getting support. When the filter alert came on we ordered a replacement. And when it arrived we waited a bit longer until the unit said the filter needed changing. I alway need to look up the directions - preferably by watching a video- because nothing is ever easy. The filter did come with some instructions but they are not always easy to follow. The pictures don’t always explain things very well. The old filter really showed it’s wear when compared to the new one. I could figure out the switch up until it came time to reset the replacement time on the unit. I had to look it up again and it’s certainly not intuitive. Every time I do this sort of thing it feels like such an accomplishment. The one thing about Dyson products is how they are packaged - a lot like Apple products. Everything is done so nicely. One of the pieces actually looked like a face. I hope the air purifier is doing what it’s supposed to do. There seems to be a lot of pollutants floating around these days. And every little bit helps to eliminate them. 

Bathroom Faucet Issue Resolved?

It seems there is something wrong in every room of our tiny condo. The door to the patio is very difficult to open and close. The paint on the kitchen cabinets is slowing peeling off. The floors have several spots that are raised. The bathtub seems to clog up a lot more than any place we have ever lived. There are a lot more “problems” - nothing serious but absolutely annoying because it is a brand new build. We even hear an occasional dripping but can’t figure out the source and believe me - we have great experience with water problems having lived in an 1890’s Capitol Hill condo. So when the bathroom water in the faucet was hardly running I had a feeling we would probably need to call someone in to check it. But before we did I looked up on line how we might be able to fix it. Since it was isolated to just this faucet it had to be something specific. I made sure the water handles were all turned to the left. Then I checked the faucet filter using a very large wrench to screw the piece off. And sure enough the filter was pretty clogged up. The water ran fine without the filter on, so we knew that was the culprit. So we removed the filter and brushed off the debris, and soaked it in vinegar for awhile. We put it back on and it is working at least as well as it used to, save for a few drips on the side. It feels very rewarding when you fix something yourself. Thank goodness for the internet. 

Dyson Filter Change

It’s that time of year again. Because the house gets a bit dry in winter we got a Dyson humidifier a year ago. It sits in the corner in the dining area and is constantly running. During the summer it also serves as a cooling device but it’s main function is to clean the air and humidify. And with all things house electronic related, there are alway filters to deal with. A couple of weeks ago the red warning light showed on the device and messaging was sent to alert us that the filter needed changing. So I had to order a new one, and they aren’t cheap. I tried putting it off as long as possible until the red light wouldn’t stop flashing. I looked for the instructions on line and tried to refresh my memory on how to perform this function. It’s really not that difficult, but one wants to get it right. Since there are two rather large filters they need to be snapped in to place in to the silver casing. The difference between the used filter and the new filter was remarkable. So at least it looked liked it really needed to be changed. Our condo on Capitol Hill was so old and the HVAC system was shared building wide. At least in our new condo we few like we have some control over our environment. The Dyson unit works quite well so much so that it sometimes sounds like a plane taking off when it clears the air of pollutants and humidifies the room. Luckily there is a night mode switch. All of these gadgets are nice to haves. Hopefully they really work like they say they will. 

Vida Face Masks

They were one of the first face masks that we ordered. Vida masks were two layer, cotton, adjustable straps, and came with a filter. We got two - a black one for my husband and a green one for me. Since we walk every morning and wear a mask every time we leave the house, we now have an assortment of Caraa, Denali, surgical blue, and KN95 masks. The activity dictates the type of mask we wear. KN95’s are worn for doctor visits or car appointments; surgical masks in the common areas of our condo; cloth masks with filters for morning walks. After the walk the masks go in a paper bag until washing them in bulk every two weeks. In order to stretch the wash days out, we got four more Vida masks and they arrived yesterday. My husband likes the most neutral colors, so he got the navy and the green/gray; mine are red and pink. These masks fit nicely in that they have a wire for nose adjustment, and fit snugly on the face. I think we are going to be stuck wearing masks for quite some time and thought cloth/filter was better than disposables. The filters last approximately 20 hours. It would be nice if everyone felt the way we did about being safe. In the end you are pretty much on your own anyway so best be prepared. We don’t have much of a choice at our age. 

Caraa Face Masks

We have a basket filled with masks. We won’t leave the house without one. Being our age really limits what we can do - which means we walk in the park and take car rides to nowhere. Groceries are delivered and everything else is ordered on line - masks, cleaning products, and anything virus related. It’s getting to be rather dreary especially when we see everyone else hanging out with friends and family - without masks. It seems we live in an alternate universe. One of the first masks I ordered were from Caraa. We really liked them because they were light, and had a “shiny” parachute type of material on the outside and cotton on the inside that created a great “seal.” You can also add additional protection by inserting a filter in the pocket. Supposedly the filters last seven days, but the mask needs washing much more frequently - especially in the stifling hot temperatures. So as not to have to wash masks by hand every day, I ordered another bunch - they come in packages of five. This time there were several color options, and the ear piece could be adjusted. They looked nice when they arrived, but they were now two layers of cotton and no “shiny” side out. The filter pocket placement was changed and the ear adjustment was a plus. The “seal” however, wasn’t as good. It was a bit disappointing, but we will use them around the building or in the car. We also have KN95 masks if we ever need to go inside - doctor appointment, car repair, etc - but we try to avoid that at all costs. One of my friends once told me you needed to always have something to look forward to. I really can’t think of anything. 

Face Masks - Cloth, Paper and Everything in Between

I used to wear them when I worked as A staff nurse for a patient in isolation, and as the nursing supervisor in the cath lab. It was a sterile environment and part of the garb that was required for a lot of reasons. My husband is a retired surgeon and wore them all the time. Now face masks are required just to walk outside. Since I don’t have a sewing machine or material I can’t make my own. Back in the day I used to make a lot of my cloths. My mom taught us how to see when she managed a fabric store. I don’t even own any scarves anymore thanks to downsizing 16 years ago. So I’ve put a couple of pieces together with shoe covers and rubber bands, and tried using a table linen napkin but they are too bulky. I assembled several more using number 4 and number 2 coffee filters, rubber bands, paper clips, staples, and tape. They actually feel the best and are a neutral tan color! I’ve also ordered a few more cloth options since I think we are going to be stuck with this “accessory” for quite some time - from Vida & Co, Caraa, and Denali. I just looked around the internet and they are each a little different. It seems that’s all the advertising is about these days. I’m not in to the fashion statements - just plain and simple. Disposables will be used more for inside the building for grocery picks and mail runs to the lobby at midnight. Yesterday I read that a stocking over the face mask would make the mask more “protective” - but how ridiculous would that look? All I know is whenever we watch TV there are many people wearing face masks - but their noses aren’t covered and they keep fiddling with them which defeats the purpose. I guess I’m just glad we are familiar with using them regardless of what type they are. We are still waiting for all of our cloth masks to be delivered. They are obviously in high demand. For now I have thE current supply all tucked away in a basket in the closet. Pretty soon they’ll move to the front of the house along with the gloves and sanitizers. 

Eufy RoboVac Filter Change

We got a Eufy RoboVac about a year ago when we were still living in our tiny Capitol Hill condo. It worked rather well so we brought it along with us when we moved to our 1000 square foot condo in northern Virginia six months ago. My cleaning routine started immediately. On Saturday after grocery shopping I do the vacuuming. On Sunday after a walk and lunch I do the dusting and clean the bathroom until it shines. I can’t really leave the eufy on it’s own. I generally cordon off sections to make it easier for it and then empty the container full of dust and debris about half way through. Where does it all come from?!  After the RoboVac does it’s job, my husband cleans up the brush and the filters. He also shakes out the swiffers after all the dusting is done. Since my husband does all the cooking and empties the trash the least I can do is the cleaning. I always keep a supply of extras on hand in case a new filter is needed, or the brushes need to be changed. And that was the case last week. The main filter was really quite dirty, and I noticed a better outcome this week since it was changed. What I like about eufy is that it can go under the bed, dressers, and TV bookcase/stand. Unfortunately my swiffer alternate that I use for the baseboards, doors, and the crown mounding broke today so I’ll need to get a replacement. We also have an iRobot braava jet to wet mop the bathroom floor and marble foyer, and dry mop the wood floor. It’s also nice because it goes under things. I generally use that once a month. So before the week ends we’ll need to get the baseboard duster replaced. Somebody’s got to get the cleaning done. And as long as I am able to do it, it will be me. It’s good exercise. 

Thermador Refrigerator Water Filter Impossible to Remove

When we first moved in to our new condo in northern Virginia about six months ago from DC, we had nothing but problems with the Thermador appliances. The microwave didn’t work, the oven could not hold a temp above 350, the dishwasher didn’t dry the dishes well, and the refrigerator water filter was impossible to remove. The filter is also located in a very odd place so it is difficult to access behind the pull out freezer door. All of these irritants resulted in several service calls. The oven was eventually replaced because three repair jobs didn’t work. We ended up buying a small microwave so we could at least use the kitchen! Even the service man had trouble getting the filter removed after our building maintenance man couldn’t get it to budge. I started using extra dry on the dishwasher and that helped with the dishes. On the flip side, our LG washer and dryer are running perfect! So it’s been six months since we changed the refrigerator water filter and we are back to where we were - neither my husband nor I could get the darn thing out and no You Tube videos were helpful. My husband at least got it turned half way, but that resulted in no more ice. So I filled our old ice cube tray just in case. And rather than try to do something on the weekend we decided to wait until Monday to try again.  So he turned the filter back to its original position and the ice at least started again. I hope we don’t have to call Thermador AGAIN because we can’t get the filter out. I have never heard of so many problems with appliances although the ice cube makers never worked in any of our GE refrigerators. What should be a simple maneuver isn’t. I suppose things could always be worse. 

RabbitAir Minus A2 Air Purifier

We decided it was time to “clean up” the house with as many robotic features as possible. So we researched and got a Euvy vacuum cleaner, an IRobot floor mop, and a RabbitAir Air Purifier. They all come with apps so you can control or monitor the action. Yesterday we set up the RabbitAir unit in our bedroom. My husband has what we think are allergies, and lately it seems I am following the same path. We also live in an 1890’s building with very poor air quality. The HVAC system is building wide and we have little control over it. We watched the You Tube video about setting the system up - getting all the filters just right - syncing it up to the app, and then placing it on the small armoire at just the right height. The air quality indicator started off as “bad” and after a few auto cycles it changed to “good.” You can get a filter specific to your needs - germ defense, pet allergy, toxin absorbent, odor remover - that are placed along with the charcoal, HEPA, regular and pre filter in the filter case. The app shows the status of the unit, and you can control a variety of options. All I can say is that my husband had a comfortable night’s rest for the first time in weeks. So, we used the vacuum under the bed, wet mopped under the bed, and set up the air purifier. Here’s hoping all of these gadgets do the trick. If nothing else, it’s fun using them.